Detroit Lions: Unsung player robbed of much deserved Pro Bowl bid

The Detroit Lions had more than one player robbed of the Pro Bowl. However, one stood out above the rest as the worst snub; but it’s not who you think.

The Detroit Lions had a couple players miss out on making a trip to Orlando, Florida in a few weeks that should have absolutely been there. While both are snubs, there is one player that wasn’t voted in that definitely should have been there as he was undoubtedly one of the best at his position throughout the year.

That player is none other than center Frank Ragnow. Ragnow has been one of the best centers in the NFL all year, if not the best, yet the Lions’ center was not voted into the Pro Bowl as neither the starter nor the reserve. The fact that Ragnow was snubbed shows there is a flaw in how the Pro Bowl players are selected, but that’s another matter.

For now, the Lions will have to hope that things are resolved by the league and Ragnow is rightfully given a place in the Pro Bowl by the league. Ragnow has proven game in, game out that he deserves a spot on the roster in Orlando.

Ragnow has played far better than one of the two players elected to the Pro Bowl, Dallas Cowboys’ Travis Frederick, and is very close to the level of the Pro Bowl starter, the Philadelphia Eagles’ Jason Kelce. According to Pro Football Focus, Frederick grades out as the 14th overall center in the league, falling 11 spots behind Lions’ center Ragnow.

Frederick grades out at a 69.9 overall grade, with a 61.4 grade in pass blocking and a 70.7 grade in run blocking. Frederick falls below Ragnow in all three areas that are gradable. The Pro Bowl starter, Kelce, deserves his spot as he is ranked as the first overall center in the game, with grades of 80.7 overall, 71.1 in pass protection, and 81.8 in run blocking.

Ragnow, is not too far off in those categories as he ranks third overall in the game with a 76.7 overall grade, a 69.9 in pass protection, and a 81.3 grade in run blocking. Overall it is clear that the Lions’ center was thoroughly robbed of a deserving spot in the Pro Bowl as the first reserve up in the Pro Bowl behind Kelce. Hopefully the league will do the right thing and give Ragnow the first chance to grab a spot as a reserve should the option become available.

For more grades, advanced statistics and more at Pro Football Focus, subscribe to PFF’s EDGE or ELITE subscriptions at ProFootballFocus.com.